Ariana Grande Talks 'Scream Queens,' Sexuality & Dancing With Madonna In V Magazine

Ariana Grande for V Magazine. Photography by Alfredo Flores 

On the eve of Ryan Murphy’s highly anticipated Glee follow up, Scream Queens, pint-sized pop star Ariana Grande talks to her director about her love of the LBGT community, drawing comparisons to Madonna, and channeling her sexuality for her onstage persona. Here are the biggest takeaways from the article that appears on V Magazine’s website.

* Her new album, Moonlight, isn’t about her breakup with Big Sean.

“You know, people found out quite a while after it actually happened. By the time I was writing the new album, I had kind of moved on. It’s not going to be captured on the album too much. I’m in a happy place. There aren’t any breakup anthems because I had moved on. I was like, alright. Well, f–k it.”

* It will be about her journey into womanhood… 

“I’ve been feeling a lot more empowered, and grown up, and independent. I think that’s part of the reason I didn’t want to make a pissed-off break-up song. I was not focused on that. Everything is nice and great right now…why would I write about some bullshit? I’d rather write about some really lovely things that are going on.” 

* When she first met Ryan Murphy, she was wearing a onesy, high heels, and started talking about Kabbalah.

“I do feel like I’m an old soul. I don’t know why. My Kabbalah teacher, Ruthie, also tells me I’m a very old soul. So I believe it. I’ve been around the block.”

Ariana Grande for V Magazine. Photography by Alfredo Flores

* She’s got mad love for the LBGT community. (Her brother, Frankie, is gay and the person who taught her how to dance in go-go boots!) 

“I wasn’t raised in a household where it was considered abnormal to be gay. So for me to meet people who use the word “faggot” as an insult, with a derogatory meaning, I can’t take it. I don’t understand it. It’s so foreign to me. I was raised in a household where being gay was like, the most normal thing. You know, my brother is gay, all of my best friends are gay. When my brother came out of the closet, it wasn’t a big deal for my family. Even my grandpa, who is like, super old-school, was like, Good for you! It’s outrageous to me when I see people hate on someone because of their sexuality. I hate the intolerance. I hate the judgment. I hate it so much. Most of my favorite people in my life are gay. It’s something I’m super passionate about, because whenever I would see my friends get bullied, or my brother get hurt for his sexuality, I would become a raging lunatic. I would literally become a raging lunatic because I just can’t take it. When you see someone you love hurting, for such a superficial, bullshit reason, it’s like, how small and spiritually unenlightened and dumb as f–k can a person be? How much further can your head get up your ass that you’re actually judging someone as a person based on their sexuality before you even have a conversation with them?”

*She bonded with Madonna over the Zohar. 

“I love Madonna. I met her a few times and she was so overwhelmingly kind and sweet, and down to earth, and motherly. She’s very, very maternal. I practice Kabbalah as well, so that was one of the first things she mentioned, because I had my Zohar in my pocket. She may have noticed, maybe not, but she brought it up. And we danced together at her Oscar party. That’s all I can ever ask for. She inspires me endlessly. I’m so inspired by her fearlessness…Like, this is me, and if you don’t like it, go f–k yourself. That’s so cool, you know?”

*Like Madonna, she’s not a good girl gone bad or vice versa. 

“Some days I feel more comfortable using sexuality in my work, and then some days I feel like being a little more reserved. I think that’s why I’m in the middle of this whole conversation of, what is she? Is she a good girl or is she a bad girl? I think that I’m both. I don’t need to be either. I don’t need to be a pop princess who is America’s sweetheart or the next rebellious, wild, young thing. I don’t need to pick or choose. I can show skin and swear like a sailor but also be a good role model. I think that I’m a good person. I don’t think cursing makes you a bad person. I don’t think showing skin or kissing boys makes you a bad person. I don’t think that expressing sexuality makes you a bad person at all. I don’t think that’s bad…I think it’s great!”  

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